Extended evolution: A conceptual framework for integrating regulatory networks and niche construction

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Complex systems theory
• Social and cultural evolution

Background:

• Existing evolutionary models often overlook the interplay between internal system dynamics and external environmental modifications.
• Understanding the co-evolution of organisms and their environments is crucial for explaining complex system development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a unified conceptual framework for the evolution of complex systems.
• To integrate regulatory network theory and niche construction theory.
• To provide a novel perspective on evolutionary explanations applicable to diverse systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual framework integrating regulatory network and niche construction theories.
• Focus on the linked processes of externalization and internalization of causal factors.
• Analysis of network transformations within their corresponding niches.

Main Results:

• The framework highlights the transformation of complex networks via externalization and internalization.
• Demonstrates the significance of these processes in evolutionary explanations.
• Addresses challenges like path-dependency, innovation dynamics, and inheritance expansion.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a more comprehensive understanding of evolutionary processes.
• It extends previous evolutionary models by incorporating niche construction and regulatory networks.
• The framework provides a valuable tool for analyzing evolutionary trajectories in biological, social, and cultural contexts.